Lacey keeps cool as Belvedere pull off stunning cup comeback
Leinster Schools Cup
Belvedere College 20
St Michael’s College 19
Daire Walsh
Defending champions Belvedere College snatched victory from the jaws of defeat at Donnybrook yesterday to book their place in the Leinster Schools Senior Cup final.
Rob Gilsenan and Jay Barron scored first-half tries, as Michael’s led 14-3 at half-time. A second Barron try left Belvedere facing into a 16-point deficit (19-3) on the hour. Belvo’s quest for a third consecutive senior title was fading, until David Lacey finished off a counter-attack. This galvanised their challenge, and created panic in the Michael’s ranks. Lacey wisely opted for the posts from a penalty on 65 minutes, setting up the 12-time champions for an extraordinary comeback.
Replacement prop Mateusz Galinski was on hand to touch down underneath a host of bodies, and it was then left for Lacey to set-up a repeat of last year’s decider against Blackrock College.
Scorers for Belvedere College: D Lacey try, 2 pens, 2 cons, M Galinski try each.
Scorers for St Michael’s College: J Barron 2 tries, R Gilsenan try, D Ryan 2 cons.
BELVEDERE COLLEGE: D Lacey; A O’Grady, M Grogan, C Mulvaney, A Loughrey; J Meagher, P Lysaght; J Gleeson, L Harmon, C Cagney, N Howard, J Murphy, G Hill, A Coleman, R Byron.
Replacements: M Galinski for Gleeson, J Bell for Cagney, C Scott for Howard, T Walsh for Lysaght, S Barry for Mulvaney (all 50).
ST MICHAEL’S COLLEGE: C Cosgrave; M O’Brien, D Ryan, J Barron, A Smith; D Moran, R Gilsenan; J Boyle, L Barron, C Hennessy, M Healy, R Baird, J Booth, S Penny, D O’Donovan.
Replacements: F Finlay for Hennessy (44), M Hernan for O’Donovan (55), J O’Loughlin for Smith (57), E Kelly for Barron (65).
Referee: P Haycock (LRR).